“My short game was back to how I know it can be,” Woods said. “My shots that I hit, especially out of these nasty little lies, I hit some really good ones this week.”

Woods made up his biggest ground on the holes on which he has always feasted: the par-5s. He was 12-under for the week on the longest holes, helped by some stellar driving when it mattered most.

“He drove the ball very, very well on the par-5s,” said Woods’ caddie, Joe La Cava. “He was long and accurate and got it in play.”

The victory was Woods’ fourth in 10 months and would seem to signal his continued comeback from the scandal and swing changes that knocked him sideways for two years. A win at Torrey Pines always has portended good things for Woods, who has 38 titles, including seven majors, in years in which he opened his season with a victory here.

“I didn’t know any of those stats, sorry,” Woods said with a chuckle. “Does it feel good? yes. Does it give me confidence? Absolutely. … I’m excited about the year. I’m excited about what I’m doing and some of the things I’ve built. This is a nice way to start the year.”

The Torrey wins don't get old, either. As Woods left the 18th-green ceremony, a tournament official asked him he'd like to have the trophy -- a replica of a Torrey pine -- put into safe keeping.